This past weekend, Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman led a tour of areas near Havana's iconic Malecón alongside the capital's top officials. The stated aim was to identify dilapidated buildings and structures at risk of collapse.
The tour, covered by Canal Caribe, highlighted what residents have been aware of for years: numerous buildings with damaged facades, structures on the brink of collapse, and parks suffering from severe sanitation issues.
Urgent areas identified include the historical Castillito building near Torreón de la Chorrera, a university student residence, and sections of the historic Malecón seawall.
Organizations responsible for repairs, such as the Office of the Historian, the Ministry of Construction, Aguas de La Habana, Recreatur Real Estate, and the Havana Business Group, stated they are working on several projects, yet provided no specific timelines.
This tour takes place amid a backdrop of chronic structural decay that the regime has overlooked for decades. Official figures reveal that around 1,000 buildings collapse annually in Havana, with the national housing deficit exceeding 800,000 units.
In 2025, building collapses claimed the lives of at least six people in the capital. In July, a building in Monte 722, Old Havana, collapsed, killing three people, including a seven-year-old girl. That same weekend, 60-year-old Roberto Álvarez Castillo died in a collapse in Santo Suárez.
In August 2025, a five-month-old baby died in Cerro when a wall fell during rains and flooded the residence. In November, Carlos Fidel Sánchez Díaz, 38, and his mother, Sara Paula Díaz, 64, died in a building collapse on Compostela between Muralla and Sol.
The only documented repair on the Malecón in recent years was an emergency patch-up of a large hole in the seawall before Hurricane Rafael's arrival in November 2024. The storm resulted in over 460 collapses in the capital.
Chapman's visit has been met with skepticism given her history of unrealistic proposals. In October 2025, she suggested placing televisions on the streets powered by generators so people could watch government broadcasts during blackouts. On April 9, she proposed mapping the water situation in Matanzas, where 300,000 people face supply issues, again without offering concrete timelines or solutions.
The Cuban government has faced repeated criticism for prioritizing hotel construction for tourism over the restoration of housing and heritage sites, while the Malecón and its nearby buildings continue to fall into neglect.
Understanding Cuba's Housing Crisis
What prompted the recent inspection of buildings near the Malecón?
The recent inspection led by Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman aimed to identify buildings and structures in disrepair and at risk of collapse. This move comes after years of neglect by the regime.
How serious is the structural decay in Havana?
Havana faces a severe structural decay crisis, with approximately 1,000 buildings collapsing annually and a national housing deficit exceeding 800,000 units.
What has been the government's response to building collapses?
The government's response has been criticized as inadequate, with a focus on tourism infrastructure over essential housing restoration, leading to skepticism about the effectiveness of recent inspections.